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Health Infrastructure works with universities and industry on local ventilator solutions as part of COVID-19 response


Tuesday 5 May 2020

Health Infrastructure has been working with universities and industry partners to lead the NSW Government’s rapid progress in the NSW-based manufacture of back-up ventilator solutions, should they be required in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ventilator solutions are part of a multi-pronged approach to ensure NSW has sufficient ventilators available for COVID-19 care. The approach includes sourcing existing available ventilators, expediting deliveries of new machines, and rapidly manufacturing ventilators locally.

Health Infrastructure Chief Executive Rebecca Wark said the call to education and industry partners to address the global challenge of supplying much-needed medical equipment to support frontline workers received a fantastic response.

“These partnerships have led to true innovation in finding creative solutions to a complex, real-world problem and will support industry, the NSW economy and ensure people are employed during this challenging time,” Rebecca said.

Two prototype ventilators have been designed, built and tested in simulation suites in Sydney and Newcastle over the last few weeks – CoVida led by the University of Sydney, and Anemoi developed by AmpControl with clinicians at the John Hunter Hospital.

Biomedical students from the University of Sydney and University of NSW have been involved in examining tried and tested ventilator technology and to rapidly design a simple, low cost ventilator that can be manufactured in NSW without competing for components with current model ventilators – this has led to the successful development of the CoVida model.

Pre-Production will involve the manufacture of 10 fully functioning units of each ventilator for further clinical assessment and satisfaction of Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) requirements for COVID-19 use in Australia.

Pre-Production will take six weeks and deliver two solutions, which could be mobilised to full production quickly if required. The ventilators could also be of benefit overseas, including in developing countries.

Both solutions will be manufactured in NSW supporting local industry, the NSW economy and local jobs.

"It’s a great example of collaboration with our partners to drive innovation and address the global challenge of supplying much-needed equipment to support frontline workers," said Rebecca.

View the ventilator prototypes here.

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